RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20019, 8 August 1928, Page 17

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. August 1-1. IS. IS—Canterbury Jockey Club August 25- Bawke's Bay Bunt Club August 29 Dunnevirke Racins Club. Au'Hist 30 Danncvirke Bunt Club. September t-Otago Bunt C.'ub September I—' Taranaki Bunt Club. September 5--Ms.rton Jockey Club. September 13. 15- Wanganui Jockey Club September 19- Manawatu Hunt Club. September 22- Ashburton Count? Racing Club September 22 Napier Park Racing Club September 22. 24 Avondale Jockey Club September 27 28— Geraldine Racing Club September 29-Pakuranga Hunt Club. September 29 -Hawke's Bay Jockey Club October 6 Kurow Jockey Club October 6. B—Auckland Racing Club. October 11. 13 Dunedin Jockey Club October 13—Carterton Racing Club October 20. 22- Wellington Racing Club. October 20. 22—Gore Racing Club October 20. 24 Waiknto Racing Club October-22- Waverley Racing Club October 22 Waiknto Bunt Club October 22- Wai'iawa County Racing Club October 22—North Canterbury Racing Club October 2£. 27- Poverty Bay Turi Club October 27 Macterton Racing Club. October 27—Banks Peninsula Racine Ciub October 31—Birch wood Bunt Club November 1. 3—Bnrgavilie Racing Club (nt Avondale) Not ember 3 5. 7. 10— Canterbury Jockey Club. November S. 10— Wh&ngarei Racing Club answers to correspondents. '• Ignoramus." Tauranga.—'The rule operetiiis" in New Zealand bearing on _ the fjrr-tion reads: —"Entries and rights of ,'i-jry shall not become void on the death ci an owner." NOTES BY PHAETON. THE GRAND NATIONALS. Filial payments for the New Zealand Grand Nationals fall due to-morrow, and f--il will serve in some measure to indicate the possible strength of the fields likely to contest the respective races. The Grand National Steeplechase, which figures on the opening day's programme, is, of course, entitled to first reference. That there will be several defections is held to be pretty certain, but it is pleasing to be able to conclude that all the leading candidates me likely to still figure in the race when the acceptances are posted. With Beau Cavalier, Pouri and Wiltshire engaged, Auckland continues to hold a strong hand in the cross-country race, and locally oiniou appears to be fairly well divided a3 to which will prove the best. The fact of Beau Cavalier having mastered the big ferres at Riccarton in his initial display, and which led to his Registering a, Grand National victory last year in dashing style, may, however, be expected to find him with the largest number cf admirers on the day despite the fact of his being called -jTion to carry the heavy impost of 12.5 Un iters in connection with the Grand National Hurdle Race look promising for

a rood acceptance, and the position is rendered pleasing by reason of the prospect of finding tlie top-weight division all paid r.n for Xukumai, Beau Cavalier and Red F who £.<nire at the bend of the list, are all reported to be training on wel 1 ard each command a large circle of ad Ijz'-rrs. Opinion is well divided on the cii'er*"or! of favouritism in connection with t-e 'ending trio named, but. according to s. r -'hem views. Red Fuchsia is a slightly better favotir'fe than the other pair named. THE WINTER CUP. The nrospects of a large acceptance for the Winter Clip continue to bo of the rr:';ht order and it can bo said that the C :.C. handicanrer, Mr. Fenrys, has once n " : r. set. srec\>Mors a stiff problem to find the -.v:nrer o£ the mile race. The victory rr r : stered by Royal Saxon in the Prnbnzon I": "ii'cap run ?t Riccarton last Saturday. »"'] r»'so the f-rm of First Sight. who filled t'e r"le o? runner-up in that race, serves to bring that pair into the limelight for !' e mi'e race set down for derision nasi w - ! c. for the figures at the l. "'m-un. whj'e First Sirjht has only to or:-;,- 9.4. Town Bank (9.6) is stated to h-ve trained on satisfactorily, and. 'tided st the post in his best form, lie should fc-ve something to s?y in the settlement of 'he question, fir he can run out a mile really we'll when at hia best. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. "Hie Australian-bred gelding Comedy TVrre. who won the Awapuni Hurdle Race «t the Poverty Bay Hunt meeting last Saturday, is now in his thirteenth year. t Di?tip's Lad. who brought off a surprise st Rice "ton last Saturday in the decision of the Kennels Hurdle Race, is a five-year-old ge'ding by Gay Lnd, his dam. Atlieldnna, being by Menschikoff. The colt popularly ticked off to vrind up the leading two-year-old of the season in this year is a youngster rejoicing in the name of Mr. Jinks. In selecting the title in question for his colt Major McCnlmont was probably prompted by the incident in the Parliament of the Irish Free Ktnto some t l- ree years back, when Mr. 'Jinks, one of the members, was out of the vay when the fateful division was taken.

Though Dubious fai'ed to complete the course at Kit-carton last Saturday when he vi>s set to contest the Homeby Steeplechase. an excuse is advanced for him in that he v.-as ridden by an inexperienced jockey, who did not. it is argued, handle his horse with good judgment at. a critical iia,-e cf ihe contest.

The biggest race of the year in Italy is the Grand Prix de Milan, which is worth 5C0.0C0 lire, and which is decided over a course extending to 30CO metres fabont one raile seven furlongs). Cranach. the winner this year, is a five-year-old by the Englishbred horse Canr.obie (son of Polymelus), it is interesting to note that Carbine's 2!nhto figures in the pedigree on the dam's

The unplaced performance registered by C'riiiJinoro in the decision of the Longbench Hurdle Race at Riccarton does not augur v.-ell for his prospects in the Grand National Hurdle . Race. The opinion was expressed that the son of Saxby was a bit <•11 the light side when he raced at Riccarton last Saturday, and, if that is a correct summing up, it certainly does not 2orm encouraging reading on the threshold oi tiie senron. Bold Front (by Magpie—-Lace Front) is still unable to lose hia maiden stains and the fact of his being decisively beaten by Ahisorne in a five-furlong race at Gisborne, vlifcn he was in receipt of 3-llb., from the ■winner, does not, it must be said, give 3(itich encouragement for his extricating liiniself from the moderate division. When !t yearling Bold Front was bought for <sogus. but the sum at which he was sold to 11 Gisborne sportsman some few months hack was not made public. However, it 1 think, safe to conclude that it was of Wry modest dimensions.

The English-bred stallion Day Comet, v 'hri was purchased recently by Sir George Clifford from the Auckland Country Breeders' Association, was entrained the sth inst. from his old home in the Waikato,, where he has been stationed since his importation feme 10 years back, to Wellington, en route to the Stonyliurst estato in Canterbury. Though Day Comet did not sire any thing shove the ordinary, the shid record against his name can, all things considered, >r, « regarded, as satisfactory, for in six wa?un3 his progeny won close on .€50,000 in stakes. At the Stonyhurst Stud Day Comet may be expected to have greater opportunities than came to 'him when stationed in the Waikato, but, as ho is cow in his eighteenth year, ho has certainly lo time to lose if ho is to give the turf Anything up to tlie Irish standard of the Bt. Simon line.